Reading Transfer Rumour Tracker - January 2020

Here we go again... After a topsy-turvy summer transfer market which saw Reading break free from their FFP-induced slumber to enjoy a mad dash to the shops in the final week, we’re back four months later to do it all again.

But how will it pan out? Mark Bowen’s squad certainly has some holes in it but is picking up some excellent results nonetheless. Along with the incomings, we’ll be monitoring the exits here too as part of a (hopefully) comprehensive view over the month’s market madness.

And, of course, we will be casting our eye over each rumour to help point you in the right direction of what news is worth getting excited about and what isn’t worth the pixels it’s printed on.

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It’s a Trab!

Mansettespor, January 31

Turkish club Trabzonspor have beaten Reading to their own man, reportedly reaching a pre-contract agreement with Tyler Blackett after the left-back rejected a new deal in Berkshire.

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Daily Telegraph, January 31

Danny Loader’s contract situation will serve to keep him at Reading until the summer as Mike McGrath reports on Norwich, Nottingham Forest and Wolves biding their time to sign the striker. His deal expires in six months’ time, when he will be available for a relatively small compensation fee.

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On your Marcs, set, go!

The Sun, January 31

Hibernian have had a “breakthrough” in bringing Marc McNulty back from Reading, which would mean ending his loan at Sunderland early, says The Sun’s Alan Nixon.

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A-Vito-Derci

Berkshire Live, January 31

Vito Mannone is heading out on loan on deadline day with Denmark the goalkeeper’s destination, Jonathan Low naming Aalborg as where he will end up.

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Con job

Berkshire Live, January 30

Connor Wickham could be on the move during transfer deadline day and Berkshire Live say the Royals are keen on the Crystal Palace striker - but warn any deal is a “long shot”.

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Ayub, lad

Berkshire Live, January 30

Beijing Renhe (the club also owned by Reading’s owners) winger Ayub Timbe is reportedly having a medical at Reading. The Kenya international started his professional career at Genk before spells across Belgium and China - and is due to sign for the Royals on loan.

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Howe about that

Reading Chronicle, January 30

Right-back Teddy Howe is a target for Blackpool as a loan signing this month, say the Chron. Chris Gunter and Andy Yiadom are the clear picks ahead of the academy man in that positon with the Ghana star approaching full fitness.

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Lipe up my fire

Berkshire Live, January 30

Reading are about to make their first January signing in Felipe Araruna, our oft-mentioned Brazilian midfielder. Berkshire Live say the move will happen, the Royals’ first of the month, but do not know whether it will be a loan or permanent deal. Yahoo add that it is a free transfer with a 40 per cent sell-on fee.

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Tyl like you mean it

Berkshire Live, January 29

Tyler Blackett will leave Reading in the summer after rejecting a new contract, according to Jonathan Low. Turkish interest has popped up for the defender, whose deal expires in June, but he reportedly will not be allowed to leave this month.

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Fel for it

Reading Chronicle, January 29

Felipe Araruna has popped up again with the Sao Paulo midfielder reportedly wanted on loan by Reading. The Chron says the midfielder is “set” to move to Berkshire but also that the terms are yet to be agreed.

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Ten-4, good buddy

FL World, January 29

Reading defender Tennai Watson, back from an unsuccessful loan at Coventry in the first half of the season, is interesting League Two and Scottish Premiership sides. That’s all we get from Football League World who insist no deal is imminent.

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Knocked it on the Ped

Record, January 25

Portuguese outlet Record have followed up on the Mendes link. With it previously said Sporting were due to make a decision in the coming days, they have now ‘rejected’ the loan offer.

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We’re Mend to be together

O Jogo, January 24

The fabled Portuguese revolution threatened when Jose Gomes never unfolded but the Royals are still keen on picking up some Iberian prospects. Lisbon outlet O Jogo name Sporting CP’s Pedro Mendes as one target. Reading have apparently submitted a loan bid with the option to buy at the end of the season. It appears that the striker’s old club Moreirense still own some of his rights so this one will reportedly take a few days to gain an outcome.

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Bahce Off

Aksam, January 21

The summer saw rumours that George Puscas is wanted by Fenerbahce if they sell Kosovan striker Verdat Muriqi to Tottenham. They’re back again but purely in a desperate attempt to drum up some content in a dry January for Reading news. Ignore.

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Ride off into the night

Berkshire Live, January 21

Reading will not pursue their interest in New Zealand midfielder Matt Ridenton after the Newcastle Jets player proved himself to be “neat and tidy but not quite what we wanted” during a trial in Berkshire - a source tells BerkshireLive.

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Southwood wanted up north (again)

The Sun, January 21

Luke Southwood spent the first half of the campaign in the Scottish Premiership with Hamilton and Alan Nixon reports that he will return there this month. Having started his first spell on the bench before eventually winning the No1 jersey, this appears to be a solid bet for Reading’s third-choice keeper.

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He’s one Marc’d man

The Scottish Sun, January 19

Marc McNulty, remember him?, is continually linked with a switch out of Sunderland this summer - he is on Reading’s books still - with Hibernian hoping he ends his loan spell just south of the border to hop back up to Scotland. Will it come off? Depends how much the Black Cats want rid and whether Hibs can agree a fresh deal with Reading.

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Can’t Ty him down

Reading Chronicle, January 17

Interest from Turkey has led to Tyler Blackett rejecting Reading’s contract offer as it doesn’t match the going rate from Fenerbahce. This would put the defender on an exit course from Berkshire although the clubs would have to agree a fee to make the deal happen in January.

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Sao long Brazil, hello Berkshire

Fellipe Lucena, January 16

The Royals have, according to reports from Brazil, been in talks over signing two Sao Paulo central midfielders: Felipe Araruna (23) and Liziero (21). While Araruna is out of contract in December this year, Liziero’s could prove trickier to bring in, potentially costing Reading 7 million euros.

Of course, Reading can count on two key figures behind the scenes to potentially make a deal happen: Kia Joorabchian and Alexandre Mattos. The former reportedly has influence out in Brazil, and is thought to have been behind the imminent appointment of the latter as Reading’s new director of football. Mattos of course has plenty of clout himself - thanks to a reputation as one of the most prominent technical directors in Brazil in the last few years.

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Midfielder Jets into Reading

Andrew Voerman, January 13

Aussie A-League side Newcastle Jets have confirmed a week’s trial for midfielder Matthew Ridenton at an unnamed overseas club - named as the Royals by New Zealand based journalist Andrew Voerman. The Kiwi, 23, has played 10 games at defensive midfield so far this season.

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Swindon set their Marcs

The Sun, January 12

Alan Nixon of The Sun says Swindon have now progressed their interest in Marc McNulty to make the Reading man their first-choice target. The Robins are in the market for a striker after losing Eoin Doyle and current loan club Sunderland are growing less keen on the Scot.

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Royals eye Rent-al agreement

Daily Telegraph, January 8

Reading are one of a few clubs after Shrewsbury Town midfielder John Laurent on a permanent deal, according to the Telegraph. Cardiff City and Stoke City are also named as potential suitors for a move this month, although Laurent’s contract apparently expiring in the summer may suggest this is all just agent talk.

Although... Mark Bowen confirmed later in the day that the player is on the club’s radar.

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Ckett back here

Reading Chronicle, January 8

Tyler Blackett’s proposed switch to Fenerbahce is not something Reading will facilitate easily, according to a number of outlets (hardly a shock given his form of late). More specifically, the Chron reckons a two-and-a-half year contract extension is on the table to prevent him from leaving on a free in the summer.

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McNulty linked to Hib operation

Northern Echo, January 7

Further from the news that Swindon want Marc McNulty, reports up north suggest Hibernian are back in for the striker. On loan at Sunderland, the Reading man excelled in Edinburgh last season and is said to be wanted there again if the Black Cats end his unproductive spell.

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Tyler has a big Fen

Asist Analiz, January 7

Fenerbahce have made Tyler Blackett a major target to cover their hole at left-back. Reports in Turkey name the Royals man and Croatian defender Dario Meljnak as the two players wanted to fill the position this month. It appears no transfer fee has been agreed but Blackett is out of contract in six months and the Istanbul side would likely up his wages.

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Robins out to steal McNulty

The Sun, January 6

Swindon are seeking a permanent deal for scoring sensation Eoin Doyle but are touting other targets if the League Two leaders cannot complete a deal. Alan Nixon names McNulty as one of two alternative considerations.

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Josh of the Rovers

Berkshire Live, January 6

With Josh Barrett announcing his departure from Reading on Monday evening, local media tipped the midfielder for a move to Bristol Rovers. The report indicates a “strong possibility” of a switch with a “very large” sell-on fee to keep the Royals neat.

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Danny says: ‘What a Loader nonsense’

Reading Chronicle, January 1

News from The Reading Chronicle’s Courtney Friday that Danny Loader wants out this month has been rebuffed - by the man himself. A claim that the teen forward, out of contract in the summer, wants a move to the Premier League was hastily withdrawn by the journo in question. Just another day in the Twitterverse...

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The window is open!

Everywhere, January 1

With the New Year, those players whose contract expires at the end of the season are now six months away from that date and can negotiate a departure to a club from another country. Players under 21 can do the same with any team, subject to a compensation fee.

According to Transfermarkt, the following players’ deals are up in the summer:

Vito Mannone, Chris Gunter, Tyler Blackett, Jordan Obita, Charlie Adam, Garath McCleary, Danny Loader and Ryan East.

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Jet-set Blackett

Football Insider, December 30

Tyler Blackett is reportedly wanted by Turkish teams Trabzonspor and Ankaragucu on pre-contract deals, which can be agreed from January. A hefty wage may be needed for the defender be willing to settle his future so early.

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Moore Moore Moore (How do you like it?)

Sky Sports, December 28

Liam Moore was named as a target for West Brom after an injury for Kyle Bartley left them assessing their options. The player has since dismissed the talk as “rumours” and it’s fair to say Reading would want a chunky fee for their club captain.